Altered Art Shrine

For centuries, pilgrims from different religions have carried tiny shrines with them to aid them in their meditation. This piece is not only an homage to these talismans but is also a one-of-a-kind of mixed-media, altered art. The handmade assemblage is contained in a vintage, Players Cut cigarette tin. Inside is an effigy of St. Therese on old, wooden game pieces; a vintage wooden thread spindle turned vase holding three, die-cut, altered map butterflies, symbolizing spirit, beauty, and freedom. The butterflies are on individual coils and are three-dimensional, and can be adjusted. As part of a multi-layered collage, there is a fragment of an antique dictionary (1887) with the definition of “Hope” and a reproduction, celestial map.

In the other niche is an antique, cigarette lighter case, mounted on scraps of handmade mulberry paper and eco-print. This case opens to receive your handwritten prayer, intention, meditation, inspirational quote, tiny photo, dried flower, or other memento to help in your personal reflections. You can either write on the small scroll seen here, or add something of your own.

The front of the shrine, somewhat distressed by the years, now also has a decoupaged butterfly and birds’ eggs.